CPYO concertmaster Jeffrey Archer and pianist Tertia Visser will present the music of three of the great Russian masters â€“ Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky at the RISE cocktail curtain raiser in the Sunken Lounge opposite the balcony at 7 on Thursday. Included is the unique Suite Italienne from Stravinsky's elegant Neoclassical ballet, Pulcinella, in stark contrast to the guttural Rite of Spring to be performed later in the evening by CPO.
Entrance is free for CPO patrons and ticket-holders; if you want to come only to the recital, tickets can be bought at the door for R50.
RISE concerts advocate a relaxed and modern approach to classical performances, in a glamorous atmosphere. The use of smartphones for further programme reading, live tweeting and photographing for social media is an integral part of the series concept and absolutely encouraged. These are no-doubt the trendiest classical events on the Mother City's musical calendar.

Niel Solomon

The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra is saddened to note the passing of Neil Solomon, a piano lecturer at the SA College of Music at UCT from 1966 until his retirement. A graduate of the College, he went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music on a UNISA Overseas Scholarship. He won several prizes there and was later elected as an Associate of the RAM. He taught at RAM and in Cambridge before joining UCT. Many of his students have won major prizes and are teaching and performing all over the world.
He performed in many of the major concert halls in recital and with orchestra in the UK, Europe and South Africa, as well as several times with the CTSO, including the South African premiere of the 40-minute symphonic concerto Winter Legends by Arnold Bax. He also made several recordings and was also a composer of note, winning the UNISA Composerâ€™s Prize as well, and his opera, You, Anna and I, with a libretto by Stephen Gray, was acclaimed as a â€˜minor masterpieceâ€™.
The CPOâ€™s board, management and musicians extend their condolences to Neil Solomonâ€™s family.

Music at the UCT summer school

Donâ€™t forget that the UCT summer school is happening now, with lots of music.

Several members of the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra are appearing in this yearâ€™s Cape Classic Festival. Venues include ambassadorial residences, Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Casa Labia and wine estates. You can find more about the concerts at www.cape-classic.com

The Darling music experience

The festival, launched in 2006, takes place from January 30 to February 15. Its aim is to bring first-class chamber music to the West Coast, and it spread its wings by establishing â€œDarling Music for Allâ€, a music education initiative inspired by â€œEl Sistemaâ€, the music movement in Venezuela that now influences social programmes in many countries in the world. In this yearâ€™s line-up of eleven concerts are CPO guest concertmaster Farida Bacharova, ad hoc vioist Emile de Roubaix and former CPO cellist Polina Burdukova. There will also be homage to internationally acclaimed composer Hendrik Hofmeyr. More information www.darlingmusic.org / info@darlingmusic.org. Bookings 079 445 9703 or email us.

Something to make you think

With Duet and TwoPianists coming up, hereâ€™s something to make you think. Click here.

CPO in the City Hall

This stunning panoramic picture was taken at the FOM gala concert in December by Giles Ridley.

click image to download larger version

International Summer Music Festival begins!

The 9th International Summer Music Festival gets off to a great start with Stewart Goodyear, the brilliant young Canadian pianist playing the Third Rachmaninov Piano Concerto.
According to the Cape Times, â€œFocussed is a word that comes to mind when thinking of classical musicians, but Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear has taken it to new levels â€“Goodyear performed all 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas in one day in 2012 in Toronto. That was the first of several performances and the realization of a fantasy he had had since he first heard a box set when he was three or four.â€

The festival is sponsored by the City of Cape Town.
Read more about Goodyear, his life and his Sonata-thon here.

We are delighted that Derek Han can manage to come to Cape Town in between performances in China and Hong Kong and then on to Florida. He is looking forward to coming back to Cape Town, having created quite a stir when he performed under the baton of Menuhin on his 80th birthday tour here nearly 20 years ago. Weâ€™ll have more on Han on the web in the next couple of days so please keep referring to www.cpo.org.za news section.

Thereâ€™s still time to subscribe to the season and be entered in a draw to win a pair of tickets to the Yablonsky Trioâ€™s Beethoven Triple Concerto in the next season. This will be a grand chance to give friends a late festive season gift and introduce them to the Cape Town Philharmonic.

Chinese-Canadian Yi-Jia Susanne Hou is beguiling

According to Christina McEwan in the Cape Times last week, sheâ€™s talented (as her competition wins attest); stylish and beautiful (as her picture shows), innovative (as seen in her choice of music and interest in wine-making) and charming, as concertgoers who are lucky enough to hear her speak to the audiences at her two concerts in Cape Town will come to realize. She will play the Butterfly Loversâ€™ Concerto by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang.Read on here.

Die Burger also wrote about Maria du Toit, the soloist in the concert on February 12. We have posted it on facebook.

CPYO / CPWE Red Carpet Concert

Carl Wastie is the host in the CPYO/CPWE red-carpet gala concert on February 19 at the Cape Town City Hall.Read more

New season bookings open for subscribers February 9

The year has barely begun, but we are on track for the April season which is one devoted to fÃªted Russian musicians â€“ we welcome back pianist Oxana Yablonskaya as well as her conductor/cellist son Dimitry Yablonsky and her violinist daughter-in-law Janna Gandelman. The concerts, which showcase this illustrious family in works by Beethoven (the Triple Concerto), Rachmaninov First Piano Concerto and Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, will take your breath away.
The renewal period is February 9 to 14. If you are not taking up your subscription for this season and would like it reserved for the next one, please ask Artscape Dial-A-Seat to do this for you otherwise you may find you have lost your seats.
More information in the calendar here.

Duet concert at Artscape Opera House

On February 22, the Cape Town Philharmonic and Cape Town Opera are formally launching Duet, an initiative of Wendy Ackerman's, a board member of both companies, to establish a a combined endowment trust for the advancement and preservation of the classical performing arts in South Africa.
The CPO will be joined by some of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra as ad hoc players; members of the CPYO will also perform, and CTO will embrace 30 youngsters from St Andrews Primary School in Saldanha Bay, all of which showcases the present and the future. The concert features vocal soloists Derick Ellis, Arline Jaftha, Bongani Kubheka, Goitsemang Lehobye, Mandisinde Mbuyazwe, Lukhanyo Moyake, Xolela Sixaba and Siphamandla Yakupa in works by Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini and more; TwoPianists Nina Schumann and Luis MagalhÃ£es will play Poulenc. The concert is conducted by Kamal Khan and directed by Christine Crouse.
Tickets are R250, from Computicket and Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695.

STOP PRESS: Joshua Bell back with the CPO

Joshua Bell will give two really exciting gala concerts with the CPO at the City Hall on August 26 and 27, one a homage to Sibelius, whose birth 150 years ago is being celebrated. The programmes are being finalized now but keep at least one of those dates open because there will be two different concerts with two different concerti and full symphony orchestra. Bernhard Gueller will be on the podium.

It's Valentine under the STARS again!

Last yearâ€™s romantic Valentineâ€™s Day concert was such a success that the stylish magazine Opulent Living is offering another Valentine under the STARS concert at the Castle of Good Hope.
On Saturday 14 February, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Brandon Phillips and acclaimed musicians like soprano Magdalene Minnaar and crossover artist Selim Kagee will present a â€˜classic-meets-popâ€™ concert under the magnificent Cape Town starry sky with Table Mountain as a backdrop. The evening will be hosted by Katlego Maboe of the SABCâ€™s popular Expresso show.
General admission tickets, which includes a glass of bubbly, wine or soft drink, will be sold at R480 through Computicket. â€˜Coupleâ€™ tickets (a ticket for two) are R900. Limited VIP tickets are on sale only 021 433 16 99/ valentine@opulentliving.co.za at R1800 per ticket. This includes prime seating, complimentary food and drinks before, during the interval and after the concert in the elegant VIP lounge. VIP guests will also have an opportunity to meet the performers. Doors open at 18h00.

Kamal Khan in Duet and Wagner

You have the chance to see two sides of Kamal Khan next month â€“ heâ€™ll be conducting the CPO in the Duet concert on February 22, a week after he accompanies four young singers in a fund-raising recital which the Richard Wagner Society is presenting to raise funds for young singers to attend competitions like the Belvedere International. Three of last yearâ€™s finalists â€“ Linda Nteleza who sang in the opera Viva la Mamma with the CPO, Khanyiso Gwenxane (tenor) and baritone Owen Metsileng, will sing arias, songs and ensembles by Verdi, Wagner, Rossini, Schumann and other composers. The mezzo is Bongiwe Nakani. Prof Khan will be playing a Steinway, courtesy of the CPO.
Tickets for seats placed on the stage itself for the recital are R275 for Wagner Society and Friends of Cape Town Opera members, and R295 for non-members. Sparkling wine is served at 18:00, the recital begins 30 minutes later, and is followed by a buffet and opportunity to meet the singers. Secure parking on the parade is available. Tickets may be booked through jillycohen@absamail.co.za / 082 459 6225.